title: The simulacra effect: the effect of media simulations on eating disorder symptomology in gay men.
abstract: Researchers have uncovered a disturbing trend in the gay community: Gay men are at an increased risk for disordered eating. Researchers in this area generally support the existence of a sociocultural component to this phenomenon; however, these assertions have not been experimentally tested. We attempted to demonstrate that media representations targeted toward gay men have the potential to affect disordered eating and self-perception. Results showed that contrary to the hypothesis, the experimental group did not show an increase in eating disorder symptomology; in some cases, the opposite occurred. Implications of the importance of identifying with media images are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Boise State University, Idaho, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Wind
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goodfriend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D012649:Self Concept